Woman beaten, raped after meeting man online

NEW BEDFORD — A 26-year-old woman was beaten and raped early Thursday, allegedly by a 31-year-old man she met online, police said.

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By CURT BROWN

southcoasttoday.com

By CURT BROWN

Posted May. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 4, 2013 at 6:35 AM

By CURT BROWN

Posted May. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 4, 2013 at 6:35 AM

» Social News

NEW BEDFORD — A 26-year-old woman was beaten and raped early Thursday, allegedly by a 31-year-old man she met online, police said.

Detective Capt. Steven Vicente, head of the Major Crimes Unit, said the suspect drank heavily, argued with the woman, then used his fists to punch the victim about the face and body.

The suspect also tried to wrap a cord around her neck but was stopped when she bit him, police said. The woman suffered cuts to her left leg when she was struck with a clay jar.

The incident happened between 2 and 6 a.m. inside an apartment in the 300-block of South Second Street, police said.

The suspect and the victim know each other, after meeting last week on the website Tagged, according to Vicente. According to its website, the San Francisco-based company is a "social network for meeting new people."

When the woman tried to call for help, the suspect took the cellphone she was holding, then grabbed a small pair of scissors and threatened to cut her throat, according to police.

After assaulting her numerous times, police said, he raped her. The woman called police at 7:50 a.m., after he left the apartment, police said. She was taken to St. Luke's Hospital for treatment.

In addition to the lacerations to her leg, the victim suffered "severe swelling" to the left side of her face, according to Vicente. The victim positively identified the suspect from a photo lineup, police said.

Vicente said police are in the process of obtaining arrest warrants from New Bedford District Court for the suspect on charges of assault and battery on a household member, assault with a dangerous weapon, witness intimidation, assault to commit murder, kidnapping, sodomy, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and aggravated rape.

Police are also seeking a kidnapping charge against the suspect because he would not allow the victim to leave the apartment. The suspect has three outstanding warrants for assault out of Braintree, police said.